Abstract: An apparatus and method for differentiating articles in a product stream is described, and which includes an acoustic generator for generating acoustic energy; a plurality of articles located in receiving relation relative to the acoustic energy, and wherein the plurality of articles receive at least a portion of the acoustic energy, and wherein at least some of the acoustic energy received by the plurality of articles is converted into electromagnetic energy; a sensor for detecting at least some of the electromagnetic energy generated by the conversion of the acoustic energy; and a processor operably coupled with the sensor for differentiating the plurality of articles based upon the electromagnetic energy sensed.

Abstract: An object stabilizing device for use with a continuous moving surface is disclosed and which includes a drive roller disposed in spaced relation relative to a continuous moving surface; and a flexible continuous belt having a proximal end driven by the drive roller and an unentrained distal end which is disposed in rested relation on the continuous moving surface.

Abstract: A flexibly structured probe carrying flexible fingers arrayed on the probe is used in decropping apparatus to snag and pull away from a poultry carcass membrane, crop, trachea and esophagus inedibles, the probe passing through the carcass stomach cavity and the neck passage in effecting this removal. The probe can be made of a resilient material such as a urethane this composition giving sufficient flexibility that the probe can deflect when encountering carcass inside obstructions to avoid damaging the carcass, and also the flexible fingers bending to prevent same breaking bones in the carcass when the rotating probe encounters such bones.